It’s that time of year
again, Universities are going back and thousands of new students will be
starting a new adventure. And for many plus size girls, it will be a horribly
daunting time, worrying about fitting in and how you will be accepted in this
new world, away from everything you know.
I thought I would share my experience,
I have been to three different Universities throughout my further education (I
did my first year at Brunel before transferring into second year at Strathclyde
and then to Bath for my Masters)
When I started Uni back in 2006
(That makes me feel very old) I was a slimmer version of myself being about a
size 18, however my weight has fluctuated while at uni, in my first year at Strathclyde
I slimmed down to a size 16 but since then have just gone up in size, now
hitting my biggest.
I haven’t found that my size has held me back
as such, I have never received any nasty comments (to my face anyway). In my
first year I went out almost every weekend and had a good circle of friends on
my course and in my accommodation, i lived with a girl who glamour modelled on
the side, she was stunning and very popular, I often went out with her and it
never felt like an issue to me, I felt like part of the group and I loved it.
Starting at Strathclyde was much
harder, I didn’t know anyone and they had already been together for a year and
formed friendships, I had also moved 400miles from home and knew no one, it was
terrifying but amazing and something I’m so glad I did. Again I made good
friends in my accommodation, the people in the flats around me become my new
family and we went out a fair bit, however on my course, I remained a bit of a
loner and didn’t really integrate properly, I kinda feel this might have been
because I am quite shy, I am very self-conscious and I was always wanting to
make sure I blended in and didn’t have a reason to stand out. Once I moved into
a house with my friends, Glasgow got even better and I really hit my stride,
having lost weight I was looking pretty good and felt it, we went out a lot and
I started to make friends on my course. I even got a boyfriend up there (my
first in several years) but I will talk more about sex in a minute.
My final year at uni was quiet
year, I got a flat by myself as my friends all went on placement and I wanted
to focus on my work to get the best degree I could (I’m a geek) but my social
life at uni really picked up, I joined the social committee and made three
amazing friends (who I am still friends with now) and started to talk to more
and more people on my course, something I found throughout my education, no one
recoiled in horror from me, no one even seemed to notice or care, it was only
me, that is the main thing I want to share with you, you are most likely the
only person who thinks that people are staring and judging you, in reality they
have their own hang ups and worries and aren’t that concerned about you.
I loved my life in Glasgow I decided
to stay for another year and enrolled on a event management course, cue more
awkwardness as most of the people on my course were only 16 and I was 23 so didn’t
really fit it but I still had my friends I lived with, instead now they were in
their final year and we had a more calm final year together preferring nights
in front of the tv than out partying.
My final year in Glasgow is also
the year I started to explore my sexuality much more, I slept with a fair few
people in that year, and I dated a lot, something I had never really done
before, and it was great, being big didn’t mean guys didn’t want to be with me
and in fact I slept with some really good looking guys (back in my first year
at Brunel on a night out I pulled one of the rugby team, his body could rival
David Beckhams, he was absolutely stunning) I could even be picky, I never felt
I wasn’t worthy of their attention and that I had to be grateful for their
time, they wanted to be with me regardless.
My time in Bath has been quiet
different, the summer before starting I was diagnosed with depression and
anxiety and was suffering quite badly, but I also met my boyfriend during this
time. I didn’t really make many friends on my course, I wanted to work instead
of partying all the time and that made me a bit of an outcast, I also didn’t
want to partake in the politics of the course, this doesn’t mean I wasn’t well
liked, I got on with everyone on my course and never had any problems with
anyone. During my time at Bath is also when I started my journey to body
acceptance and I have grown and changed a person and I look forward to seeing
where that will go. As for me, I’m starting my PhD in October at Bath and I will
be taking seminars, am I nervous? Yes but not because I’m worried the students
will judge me for my size, I’m just worried they will know more than me haha.
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| Me in first year dressed for Fetish night |
I hope this long rambling has been
somewhat helpful and insightful and makes you realise your time at uni is going
to be amazing, don’t let your size hold you back, people often don’t see you
for what size you are but what you are as a person so do everything and try
everything, don’t look back in 3 years full of regrets because your body held
you back.
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| Me in second year |
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| Me at the end of second year |
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| Me in third year |
